By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay
The Chief Minister, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, has spelled out the government’s roadmap to deliver on President Julius Maada Bio’s declaration that 2025 be “the year of delivery and bold actions.”.
The Chief Minister was speaking at a weekly government press briefing organized by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education.
Dr. Sengeh said the government will accelerate delivery and take bold action on every aspect of society.
“We will take bold action to protect women and girls in this country. We will take bold action on inclusion to make sure there is a place for everyone in our society. President Bio cares for everyone; that is why we will take bold action for this generation and generations to come,” Dr. Sengeh said.
Highlighting the major success from 2024, the Chief Minister singled out the Ministry of Information and Civic Education for praise on putting together the Salone Civic Festival.
“This was one of the best things that happened in Sierra Leone in 2024. It brought everyone together; several important conversations were had; the entertainers brought government closer to the people; it was just brilliant,” Chief Minister Sengeh said.
The Chief Minister’s remarks come at the back of a major success in negotiating the price of rice downwards. This week, his office announced a deal that has been reached with major rice importers to reduce the price of rice based on a pricing formula. Minister Sengeh said the negotiation comes out of the President’s commitment to ensure he takes care of every Sierra Leonean.
“The biggest cry in this country for so many has been for the president to reduce the price of rice. Through a pricing formula, we have been able to negotiate a reduction. The people we negotiated with account for 90% of the rice we are importing into the country,” Minister Sengeh said.
Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, said 2025 is going to be an exciting year for the government.
“2025 will be an exciting year for delivery for the people of Sierra Leone,” Minister Bah said.
The negotiation for the reduction in the price of rice is not just a success in isolation; the government of Sierra Leone has worked towards it, the chief minister said.
“We have done the groundwork for this. Last year we launched the Consumer Protection Agency, and we have been working towards this,” he said.
In the new year, a pricing formula could be developed for more local commodities.
While praising the stability of the exchange rate, he also said the country has attracted more than $1 billion in DFC investment through the private sector.
“All of this has been possible because of the atmosphere we have created in Sierra Leone. And this year, they are willing to double their investment, so if you are in the private sector and you have good equity, you can approach DFC just because you are in Sierra Leone,” he said.
Chief Minister Sengeh urged everyone to be excited about the future and promote peace and harmony in the country.
